Carer interview questions

Employers are looking to see if you have the passion and dedication it takes to become an exceptional carer. A question such as this is your opportunity to share your reasons for applying and describe your passion for helping others.

If there is anything about the company or its working culture that stands out, this is a good time to bring it up. It shows that you took the time to carefully research the role you are applying for.

This question provides another opportunity to show that you’ve researched the company and carefully read the job description. If you have relevant experience, this is an excellent time to share some of your former roles and responsibilities.

If you’re unsure about the role of a carer, reading the day-to-day routines of a carer can give you some insight into the expected tasks and responsibilities of a carer.

Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in the care industry and employers are looking to see that you take it very seriously. Building and maintaining trust with a client is fundamental to providing them with high-quality care. Confidentiality can include everything from not sharing what you hear during private conversations to not disclosing your client’s personal information such as their name or phone number.

Every employer is different in terms of the experience they require, but it is important to remember that not all care experience is paid experience. For instance, relevant experience would also include if you have previously cared for other family members or children. What is most important is to have a passion for caring for others and ensuring that they are treated with dignity at all times.

Employers are looking to see if you have the qualities it takes to help support people comfortably in their own homes. Some of the natural qualities we would expect to see from our own carers include patience, reliability, compassion and empathy.

To answer this question, think about what motivates you to want to become a carer. It is likely that your motivations will inform the key qualities you bring to the role. For instance, if you like to be social, care for others or make people laugh, you might describe your qualities as being friendly, kind or empathetic.

There is no one solution for managing a situation where a client is distressed. The best way to handle such a situation is to tailor your response to the unique needs of the client and whether they are living with a particular condition or not.

A good way to answer this question is to try and think of a similar situation you might have been in and describe how you handled it. Overall, employers are looking to see your interpersonal skills and whether you can stay calm and collected in a stressful situation.

Care work is immensely rewarding but it can also be stressful or challenging at times. With this question, employers are looking to understand your natural coping skills and how you handle working under pressure.

Use this question as an opportunity to highlight some of your strengths. As uncomfortable as these events might be, they offer an opportunity for growth and that’s what employers want to hear about. Provide a few examples so that your potential employer knows how you get through tough situations.

At Prestige Nursing & Care, we always provide person-centred care. This means that the care we offer is highly personalised to the needs, wants and preferences of the people we support. This type of care ensures that our clients are always at the centre of the care journey and that they receive the highest quality of care.

If you have any restrictions on the number of hours you are able to work, it is better to say so right away. While it might be tempting to overstate your availability, this can lead to problems later on as your manager may have to cover the hours you originally said you would be able to work. Be honest about your commitments and only accept to work the hours you can manage.

Don’t forget that an interview goes both ways! While the employer will be looking to see if you are a good match for their company, you should also be exploring whether they are the right fit for you.

This question provides a great opportunity to show off your interest in the company you are applying for. We suggest coming up with a short list of questions you would like answered. These questions can be about the role, your expected responsibilities or about the company and its culture.